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Shortly after arriving in Koh Chang, an island in Thailand, we dug deep online to find some unique locations. We heard about an abandoned cruise ship, turned into a hotel and then abandoned again. We thought it would be a perfect place to take some photos and explore. Information on it was vague and old, we still weren't sure if it still existed. None of the locals seemed to know it. Slightly off the beaten path, but nothing is too far on an island that takes an hour to cross, so we headed towards it's direction.

Gasoline 40 Baht

What to bring:

- Mosquito spray (apply generously, mosquitoes are my nemesis)

- Bring water. Its warm in Koh Chang. 28°C (82°F) is the average temperature during the hot months.

- A flashlight (many creepy rooms inside)

- Cat food and dog treats for stray animals

We rented a motor scooter from our Airbnb and it felt like we could go anywhere. After a few wrong turns we found the spot. A big piece of land with a single road leading up to a hut where a lonely guard charges you a fee to enter. For a little extra we could've rented bicycle's, too.

Once inside its impossible to miss "The Galaxy" a giant abandoned cruise ship. I believe there are still hotels and other areas (ships converted into hotels) functioning so we avoided the front desk area. We found and entrance in the back of the ship even with the front of the ship closed off and there are plenty of open windows to climb through.

Happy to find it still exists it was such an interesting site to see. A cruise ship cemented to the land and slowly decaying away by a beautiful beach. Nobody seemed to care and we shamelessly took our time to explore.

Our cat friend was taking a nap and then followed us around.

A friendly cat was the only living contact we came to encounter. It was eerie and would not not like to be alone exploring through there.

Empty hallways

An office like someone left in a hurry, but may come back.

I wouldn't have wanted to be there at night, it was quite spooky inside even during the day. It confuses your brain in a way, when a place so large that would usually be filled with people is empty. Especially decorations and daily items still about. It feels like someone could walk into you at any second. Exciting to go and explore for some of the same reasons.

Jason forgot his GoPro and had to go back inside to get it.

We were surprised to find a gorgeous beach right next to the ship. Sun was already set and we played on the swings. Nobody else around we felt like it be worth to visit just for that.

An airplane graveyard in Bangkok

Between car repair shops and apartment buildings, a small airplane graveyard has appeared inBangkok, Thailand. The first fuselage parts, the nose sections of twoBoeing 747sappeared sometime around January 2010. By 2014, two MD-82jetliners formerly operated byOrient Thai Airlineswere added. One of them had been involved in afatal 89 person crashat Phuket International Airport in 2007.

The planes have been slowly stripped of some parts like seats, interior paneling, TV sets, and overhead compartments and it is said that the yard's owner is selling different parts for scrap. It has also been reported that a businessman wanted to convert the interior of a plane into a bar but these plans failed.

From time to time homeless families have used the abandoned planes as shelter. Today, the yard's owner allows those curious to look around the planes for a small fee.

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Onboard the Galaxy. Koh Chang’s Ghost Ship

Note:

I wrote this back in 2012, since then numerous travel bloggers have made the pilgrimage to this decrepit, land-locked, cruise liner in order to explore the decks and experience the wonder of Koh Chang’s most bizarre accommodation. It even made an appearance in the Huffington Post. However, since mid-2016 it’s doors have been padlocked shut and a large ‘No Entry’ sign placed outside. So, it appears no longer in use even for resort guests.

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One of the dilemmas facing guests staying on the floating ‘ship-otel’ is“Do I run towards the light or away from it?”

I often get asked what I consider to be the most ‘interesting’ of Koh Chang’s resorts and one place always comes to mind. Aunchaleena Beachfront Resort, formerly, Koh Chang Grand Lagoona, near Bangbao, is a Thai billionaire’s vision of what a luxury island resort should look like, so maybe his ideas are ‘different’ to yours. The resort is so ‘special’ that non-guests have to pay to get in, currently this is 50 Baht per person and includes use of a bicycle, if you want it, in order to tour the grounds. There’s also a nice little waterfall in the jungle nearby. So far, so good.

The centrepiece of the resort is the floating hotel, the Galaxy, which is described as either:

‘A Seven deck floating boat, nicely equipped with full facilities and five star hotel is drifting gracefully on the crystal lagoon next to the sea, giving you the mood of grand cruise with unforgettable impression. The well-decorated and modern building consists of 70 modern rooms of superior design.’

‘The Galaxy, well recognized as the most modern floating hotel in Thailand . . ‘( Hotel booking sites )

‘The Galaxy is the centre piece – a 7 deck boat housing 70 rooms. In the pictures it looks gleaming and white and the description talks of five star luxury. In reality, from the outside it looks like the Titanic – after being raised from the depths.’

‘The “ship” our room was in was totally disgusting, neglected and straight out of a horror film.’

‘Too scared to look inside the big ship they have as cabins.’( Tripadvisor reviews )

As someone who has a resort,well a guesthouse, listed on Tripadvisor, I know how picky reviewers can be and that criticism can sometimes be harsh and unwarranted, but at least in this case all parties agree the Galaxy experience is ‘memorable’, just for differing reasons.

Rather than take sides, here are some photos of the the only ship-o-tel on the island and you can judge for yourself. But I have to say, when I walked down the dark, dank, unlit corridors I half expected Jack Nicholson to come through one of the doors with a chainsaw. On the plus side, great views from the roof.